COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – If Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Clint Irwin were to open a laundry business, he’d better do it soon. Because after the Rapids’ first two outings of 2015, he’s delivering nothing but clean sheets.
The Rapids may be winless and scoreless through the first two games of the season, but the club has also yet to concede. Colorado opened the year with a goal-less road draw vs. the Philadelphia Union, and followed that up with a Week 3 match vs. New York City FC that also ended in a 0-0 stalemate. It hasn't been the best of starts, but certainly not the worst either, at least from a defensive standpoint.
“You know if you keep a clean sheet, the team is going to have a greater chance to win and isn’t going to lose,” Irwin told MLSsoccer.com. “I think if we have 34 games the goal is to get 34 shutouts. Is that realistic? I don’t know. We’re two for two so far, so we’ll see how that goes.”
Irwin’s renewed confidence is a drastic change from last September, when Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni decided to give the soon to be 26-year-old 'keeper a “mental rest” during a spell in which the team was leaking goals.
“I feel that Clint, rightly or wrongly, has taken so many goals, and I think for a young player to experience that type of situation, especially as a goalie, you start to lose confidence,” Mastroeni told reporters at the time.
It’s still early, but Irwin has appeared to regain his swagger to start the new season.
“Clean sheets are always going to help your confidence,” Irwin said. “Guys who are still here have that bad taste in their mouths from last year and want to make it right. That’s something that has served us well so far.”
After a fierce competition with former Philadelphia No. 1 Zac MacMath during the preseason, Irwin was given the nod to start in Philadelphia in the Rapids’ first regular season game (MacMath was unable to play against the Union as part of his loan agreement). It was a strong showing of faith in Irwin, who had spent the week prior away from the team as a player representative in the recent collective bargaining negotiations.
For what Irwin may have been lacking in physical reps leading up to that game, he more than made up for with the type of mindset that Mastroeni arguably values the most.
“If players are in the right frame of mind, they’re ready to go,” Mastroeni said. “That’s what separates the good from the great, is the belief in themselves and the ability to prime themselves for each individual performance.
“That’s what we’re asking of every player in the game, but [Irwin] plays in a position where he’s been keeping us in games and giving us a chance. I think he’s played well and kept us in the game.”
Irwin came up big with four saves in Philadelphia, including a crucial stop in the 85th minute on a flicked header by Conor Casey. He followed that up with two saves, in the face off six shots from David Villa,in the Rapids’ draw with NYCFC.
- Get more Rapids news at ColoradoRapids.com
Aside from goalkeeping, a suspect defense was often the blame for the Rapids leaking goals during the second half of last season. Irwin, however, has given kudos to Colorado’s revamped backline for the defensive turnaround and a strong start to 2015.
“I think the biggest thing is that the guys in front of me are preventing opportunities and not giving up a lot of shots,” Irwin said. “Axel [Sjoberg], Bobby [Burling], Shane [O’Neill], all of those guys have been doing really well.”
Regardless of how well the players in front of him play, “goals against” remains a stat line assigned to one position on the field – a fact Irwin is well aware of.
“I think with the goalkeeper position, your personal success is very much married to the team’s success,” Irwin said. “You know if you keep a clean sheet, the team is going to have a greater chance to win and isn’t going to lose.”
